9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Arrival at Skopje Airport. Transfer to the city centre. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. City tour in the centre of Skopje: Macedonia Square with the monumental sculptures of the “Skopje 2014” project, Mother Theresa’s Memorial House, the cathedral temple of St. Clement of Ohrid, The Old Market, Skopje Fortress. Visit to the cherch of St. Spas – one of the most beautiful examples of Balkan Baroque. In the afternoon – visit to St. Panteleimon Monastery in the slopes of Mount Vodno: built and decorated with magnificent frescoes in 12th century, it is considered to be one of the predecessors of European Renaissance art. It is famous for the unique fresco ensemble including the masterpiece "Lamentation of Christ". From here we continue by the ski lift to the top of Mount Vodno to enjoy the panorama from the Millenium Cross on its highest peak. Return to the city centre. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. Drive to lake Matka – relaxed park area in the beautiful surroundings of River Treska Canyon, where the oldest artificial lake in North Macedonia has been constructed. Visit to St. Andrew Monastery, built in 1389 by one of the famous local mediaeval rulers – Andrew. We continue to Tetovo, one of the largest cities in Macedonia, for a visit to the famous Colored Mosque – one of the emblems of Ottoman architecture in North Macedonia. Continuing to the south, we will make a photo-break at the shores of Mavrovo Lake with its famous flooded church. Visit to the beautiful monastery of St. John Bigorski - founded in the beginning of 11th century, it has been an important cultural centre throughout its long and turbulent history. Drive to Ohrid. Accommodation and optional dinner at the hotel at the Ohrid Riviera. Overnight.

Breakfast. Drive to Struga. Walking tour in the town centre – Struga old market, the house of Miladinovi with the town museum, dedicated to the most famous poetic festival on the Balkan Peninsula. Visit to the church of St. George built in 1863. Drive to Kalishta Monastery, located on the shores of the deepest lake on the Balkan Peninsula – Ohrid Lake, not far from Struga. Tour of the complex, consisting of 5 churches, of which the oldest is the rock church of “Sveta Bogoroditsa” (Virgin Mary) from 15th century – one of the typical representatives of Ohrid late mediaeval painting school. Walk to the rock church of St. Athanasius. Visit to the rock church of St. Erasmus, dedicated to the first Christian missionary in this region who baptized thousands of people in the waters of Ohrid lake back in 3rd century. In the afternoon - walk to the rock church of St. Stefan, located on a steep cliff above the shore of Ohrid lake. Return to the hotel. Optional dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Walking tour in the old town of Ohrid – part of the list of the world cultural heritage of UNESCO: St. Sophia Church, St. Mary Peribleptos Church, St. John Kaneo Church, St. Clement and Panteleymon Church. Old town of Ohrid hides many other treasures too: the Ancient Theater, Tsar Samuel's Mediaeval Fortress, Robevi House – local historical and ethnographic museum, craftsmen workshops for production of paper, Ohrid pearls, wooden sculptures, etc. In the afternoon – drive to St. Naum Monastery, located 27 km south of Ohrid, on the lakeshore. Founded in the beginning of 10th century by one of the patrons of this area, St. Naum, this monastery is considered to be sacred place by both local Christians and Muslims. Tour of the complex – Church of the Archangels, St. Petka Chapel. Boat trip to the 14th century church of St. Virgin Mary – Zaum, accessible only from the lake, where the oldest icon depicting St. Naum has been discovered. Return to the hotel and optional dinner. Overnight in Ohrid.

Breakfast. Visit to the village of Kurbinovo and walk to the church of St. George – one of the most beautiful mediaeval churches in North Macedonia. Drive to Bitola. Visit to the Revival church of St. Demetrius from 1830. Drive to Prilep. Visit to the Varosh monastery of Archangel Michael above the Old town of Prilep. Accommodation in Prilep, optional dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast. Drive to Stobi and tour of the archaeological reserve – one of the most developed Roman cities in the province of Macedonia, early Christian centre. Drive to Shtip. Sightseeing tour of the town and visit to Novo selo with the church of Holy Trinity – one of the most impressive Revival churches in North Macedonia. From here we continue through the Osogovo mountains to Lesnovski Monastery – here you can witness the last of the wooden iconostases created by Filipovi brothers in the 19th century. Drive to Kratovo – small town located in an old volcanic crater in the mountains that gave its name. Accommodation, optional dinner at the hotel and overnight in Kratovo.

Breakfast. Walking tour in Kratovo: old bridges, local feudal towers, St. John Church. Drive to Osogovo Monastery – founded in 13th century by legendary monk Theodor, today it includes two temples – St. Joachim Osogovski, where the relics of this legendary saint have been preserved, and Virgin Mary with its holy water fountain. Drive to Skopje. On the way – photo break by St. George church in Staro Nagorichane – one of the masterpieces of Macedonian mediaeval architecture. Accommodation in Skopje, optional dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast. Tour to Marko’s Monastery at the slopes of Mount Vodno – 14th century monastery complex, commissioned by the last Christian rulers of mediaeval Macedonia – King Valkashin and his son, Krale Marko. Return to Skopje. Transfer to the airport and departure.